Le Mans 2015 Viper GTS-R

Le Mans, France – A lap-record pace and race-leading performance put the No. 53 ViperExchange.com/ Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper GTS-R, and drivers Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Marc Miller, in contention for the GTE-Am class win at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans only to have mechanical issues ultimately sideline the team late in the race’s 23rd hour.

Although the team came up just short on finishing the race, ViperExchange.com will leave France proud of more than one accomplishment. In addition to leading and setting the fastest race lap in class – a blistering 3:55.896 time by Bleekemolen – the team was competitive from the drop of the green flag.

“It was very exciting to lead a few laps early on and really show how competitive we were,” Keating said. “We came to Le Mans with the goal of wanting to do well, not only to show what we can do as a team, but also to represent Viper and everyone in what we call the Viper Nation. Hopefully our performance today made them all proud. I know I am very proud of our Viper Exchange and Riley Motorsports team and what we accomplished. We just wanted a little more there at the end.”

Harley-Davidson LiveWire

If you’ve been keeping up tabs on any of the production footage from the newest upcoming Avengers movie, you’ve been noticing more than stunt doubles, and super heroes costumes.

Thought to be a movie prop (seen below with Scarlet Johansson’s stunt double) for the stealthy and quick Black Widow character, it turns out to be Harley’s new electric motorcycle project entitled LiveWire.

Recently a mysterious video released on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel yesterday shows a much quieter motorcycle zooming down Route 66, fueling speculation that this bike is electric.

You heard the confirmation here, folks. It’s happening. Not many classic riders or Harley fans are on board quite yet, but President Matt Levatich had something to say in hopes to bring some light to their new changes. “We think that the trends in both EV technology and customer openness to EV products, both automotive and motorcycles, is only going to increase, and when you think about sustainability and environmental trends, we just see that being an increasing part of the lifestyle and the requirements of riders,” Levatich said. “So, nobody can predict right now how big that industry will be or how significant it will be.”

What do you think about this new bike and the new direction Harley-Davidson is heading in? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below after the gallery.

"It's A Viper. It Should Scare Some People."

SRT GTS-R Viper

Autoweek has learned that the pair of factory-backed SRT Vipers named on the entry list for the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans will not make the trip across the Atlantic for the race in June.

“We regretfully and respectfully decline to participate in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Brand and Motorsports. “We are honored to once again be invited by the [race organizer, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest] to compete in this historic event, and they were the first to be informed of our decision. We will remain focused on our North American racing program in 2014.”

“We are sorry to learn that SRT Motorsports has withdrawn from the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Vincent Beaumesnil, the ACO's sports director. “Viper had a lot of success in the GT class of our race back in the '90s and their return last year was very promising. There's no doubt that come 2015, SRT will certainly find [its way] once again [to] the Le Mans track and we will be happy to welcome back this highly valued competitor.”

SRT Motorsports will continue to run the No. 91 and 93 SRT Viper GTS-Rs throughout the 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship series season, with its next outing coming in the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase in Long Beach, Calif., on April 12.

V8 Super cars + Volvo S60 = sant

Volvo Polestar Racing debuts its first ever V8 Supercar engineRace engine developed by Polestar with support from the same Volvo engineering team behind upcoming Drive-E enginesUnique engine promises distinctive sound

Volvo has unveiled the engine that will power its two Volvo Polestar Racing S60s in the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship.

“As the first luxury car manufacturer to field a factory team in the V8 Supercar Championship, we’re delighted to share this milestone moment with you and reveal our race engine for the 2014 V8 Supercar season,” said Matt Braid, Managing Director of Volvo Cars Australia.

“The race team at Polestar have worked hand-in-hand with the engineering team at Volvo Cars to design, build and develop a race engine in Gothenburg, Sweden, to compete in Australia’s premier motor racing category.”

The global resources of the Volvo Car Group and Polestar, Volvo’s performance and motorsport partner since 1996, are being fully utilised to facilitate the development of the Volvo Polestar Racing V8 Supercars in readiness for the 2014 season.

The Volvo B8444S 4.4-litre production V8 has been modified and built specifically for racing in the V8 Supercar Championship by Polestar – supported by the same people in Volvo Car Group who are behind the innovative four-cylinder Drive-E road car engines, which debut in Australia next year.

Thanks to its compact size and narrow 60 degree vee configuration, the B8444S is a truly unique engine on today’s racing grid. With this in mind, motorsport fans can expect to instantly recognise the Volvo Polestar Racing S60s in 2014 thanks to the engine’s distinctive soundtrack.

Christian Dahl, Managing Director of Polestar, said of the race engine: “We have completed a number of high-rev simulations and long-distance runs and we’re very happy with the figures and outcomes we’ve achieved. The next step is to fit the engine to the race car and continue the pre-season development timetable.”

Development of the race engine began back in May 2013. The first block was completed in late October and had its first run on the dyno in mid-November.

“So far, everything is absolutely on track with the race engine,” said Volvo Car Group Motorsport Technical Director Martin Persson.

“On paper, this race engine and the new Drive-E engines are quite different. But from an engineering perspective it is a very similar process, and that is to push your imagination and creativity to the limit within a specific set of targets.

“For instance, whether you are aiming for leading efficiency or the most powerful race engine ever to be heard in the Australian V8 Supercars Championship, you will strive to reduce weight, friction, heat and to maximise power.”

Further information about Volvo Polestar Racing will be released in due course.